Rubio Could Re-Enter Draft

According to the collective bargaining agreement, the Timberwolves hold Rubio’s NBA rights as long as they make him an offer, and he plays professional ball in some FIBA-sanctioned league, which is just about all of the leagues he’d consider playing in.

Now all of that would not matter if Rubio pays the $6.6 million buyout from his Spanish club’s contract and sit out a full year. By not playing in a full year of any FIBA-sanctioned league, the Timberwolves’ rights to Rubio is nullified.

Rubio’s only chance of playing in the NBA this year, is if he puts on a Timberwolf uniform or hopes Timberwolves President David Kahn receives an amazing trade offer he cannot refuse. Rubio cannot threaten to stay and play in Europe, because he Kahn said from the beginning that he will be patient and wait a year or two for Rubio, if necessary.

So yes, Rubio could technically re-enter next year, but Abbott said it right, “Clearly, this is an illogical move. To leave his Spanish team, he’d still have a buyout, only now coupled with almost no income at all.”